Bree Clarke, 18, Cottesloe

Once upon a time in a kingdom not so far away there was a wanderer who stumbled onto a castle...

But this was not a Disney castle, inane in its perfection. This castle was big and metallic, a castle where the velvet of old theatres met the wrought iron of industrialisation, where on the stage Shakespeare crossed paths with burlesque dance. This castle had no moat, in fact it welcomed anyone inspired to enter, and enter they did, for this space was sacred. Our weary wanderer walked inside.

He found that this castle had many floors above and below, each floor was a space where the arts cooked and stewed, where ideas boiled over. A stage came alive in the basement through the words of plays; old and new... where voiced echoed and rebounded in the dark theatre. Not to be disturbed by the classes above of pottery, and the lounges where the devotees talked and the spurt of the coffee machine sang. Music washed over those who caused the murmur as did the laughter of the musicians. A flute and guitar, the inconsistent rap of drums and shake of a tambourine, drifting down to the people below, in fact as the wanderer climbed the spiral staircase all manner of things could be seen and heard.

Energy existed, pure electricity jumping across the ground and up the walls! Not to be forgotten was the next floor, full of bookcases laden with books and music. And finally after travelling through the levels, entertained and inspired, the stairs lead through the roof. There a stage for loud live music stood. As the distortion flooded through the speakers, people cheered for they were enjoying music in the sky.

Back inside the pleasure did not stop as every sense was catered to, sight, sound, smell, taste and touch were all delighted. Walls and floors were covered with paint and sculptures stood in corners. The movement and rhythm constantly pulsed proving that the castle had a life and soul of its own. So our weary wanderer had found his place, welcomed and warm and he settled down between the bookshelves to read a story beginning with ‘once upon a time…'